Latest Updates for XAT
- 31 January 2024 :
XAT cut off 2024 for PGDM BM and HRM programs has been released.
XAT exam pattern 2024 includes total marks, marking scheme, mode, question type, and number of sections. The XLRI has released the XAT exam pattern 2024 on the official website. XAT exam will be held online as a computer-based test. The duration of the XAT 2024 will be 3 hours and 30 minutes (210 minutes).
XAT questions will check a candidate's understanding of Verbal and Logical Ability, Quants and Data Interpretation, General Awareness, and Decision-Making ability. The candidates need to go through the XAT paper pattern 2024 to understand the distribution of questions throughout the question paper and the XAT marking scheme.
Don't Miss: XAT Exam Analysis 2024
Important: XAT Answer Key 2024
Table of Contents
- XAT Exam Pattern 2024
- Section-Wise XAT 2024 Exam Pattern
- XAT Marking Scheme 2024
- XAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Key Changes Introduced
- XAT 2024 Exam Duration: Overall and Sectional Time Limit
XAT Exam Pattern 2024
XAT exam pattern 2024 is given below for applicants reference. The XAT exam will be conducted online and will consist of 100 questions in total. The exam pattern table is shared below. If XLRI changes the XAT test pattern 2024, it will be updated in this section.
| Particulars | Details |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Medium of Question Paper | English |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Duration of the Test | 3 hours 30 minutes |
Practice: XAT Previous Year Question Paper
Section-Wise XAT 2024 Exam Pattern
XAT section-wise exam pattern is tabulated below. Candidates can check the number of questions that will be asked from each section, the time allotted for those sections, and the XAT marks per question.
There are two sections in XAT exam pattern 2024. Part 1 contains subjects such as Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, whereas Part 2 contains questions from General Knowledge. Candidates must remember that no sectional time will be allotted for these subjects.
| Sections | XAT Question Pattern | Overall Time Duration |
| Part-1 | 75 (MCQ) | 175 Minutes |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Decision Making | 21 | |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | |
| Part-2 | 25 (Multiple-choice Questions) | 35 Minutes |
| General Knowledge | 25 | |
| Total Questions (Part 1 + Part 2) | 100 | 210 Minutes |
The section-wise weightage details for XAT papers are mentioned below.
XAT Marking Scheme 2024
XAT 2024 is a computer-based test (CBT). There is a negative marking for every incorrectly answered question. The candidate can leave 8 questions unanswered, after which 0.10 marks will be deducted for each unanswered question.
Knowing the XAT previous year question paper pattern will help the candidates devise an effective strategy for the exam day. By understanding the XAT marking scheme, the candidates can restrict their guesswork to where necessary.
- Number of Questions: The total number of questions has increased to 100 from 99.
- Numerical Answer Type Questions: XLRI has introduced Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
- No marks will be deducted for these questions.
- To answer the NAT questions, candidates must use the virtual keypad on the computer screen and enter the numerical answer.
- Essay Writing: There will be no essay writing test in XAT 2024.
- MCQ specifications: Each MCQ will have five options. One of those options will be the correct answer.
- Deduction of Marks for Unattempted Questions: Candidates must remember that they can only leave 8 questions unattempted. After that, a negative marking penalty of 0.10 will be applied for each unattempted question (except for the General Knowledge section).
- Sectional Time Limit: Not available.
- XAT negative marking will not be applicable for the General Knowledge section. This section will not be counted for percentile evaluation either.
- Extra Time: For visually impaired candidates, XLRI shall offer 25 minutes to complete Part 1 of the question paper. No extra time will be given to any candidate to solve the GK section.
Applicants must check the marking scheme table shared below.
| Particulars | Details |
| For Every Correct Answer | 1 mark will be awarded |
| Candidates can Leave 8 Questions Unattempted | After which, a 0.10 mark will be deducted for every unattempted question |
| For Wrong Answers | 1/4 mark will be deducted |
| For the GK Section (part 2) of the XAT Question Paper | No negative marking |
Also Read:
XAT Exam Pattern 2024 in Detail
The XAT exam pattern 2024 for each section has been shared below in detail. Applicants must check the pointers shared.
Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning:
Applicants must check the detailed exam pattern shared below for the verbal ability, reading comprehension, and logical reasoning paper.
- Total questions: 26
- Type of questions: MCQs
- RC passages: 4
- RC Based on questions: 14 to 16
- VA questions: 8 to 10
- VA topics: Vocabulary; Analogy; Para Jumbles, Para completion; Critical Reasoning; Statements-assumptions.
- Level of difficulty: Moderate to Very Difficult
Decision Making:
The exam pattern details for the decision making section has been provided below for candidates reference.
- Total questions: 21
- Type of questions: MCQs
- Question groups: 7 to 8 sets of decision-making problems followed by 2 and 3 questions each
- Level of difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation:
The quantitative aptitude and data interpretation consists of 28 questions. Candidates must check the detailed paper pattern explained below.
- Total questions: 28
- Type of questions: MCQs
- Level of difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Frequently asked topics in Quant and DI Section
General Knowledge:
The general knowledge paper of XAT 2024 consists of multiple choice questions. The detailed exam structure for the general knowledge paper has been shared below.
- Total questions: 25
- Type of questions: MCQs
- Time Limit to Attempt: 25 minutes
- Level of difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Question topics: GK questions could be based on any topic including Current domestic and international affairs; Business; Economics; social issues, appointments; conventional GK; sports; Constitution of India among others.
- Key highlight: Not taken into account for the calculation of percentile in the XAT exam.
XAT Essay Writing
After a three-year hiatus, the XAT essay writing part was reinstated in 2022. In 2019, XLRI eliminated the essay component.
- XAT GK section and the XAT essay writing section are combined in the second segment of the paper. A brief essay of no more than 250 words and the General Knowledge (GK) component can be completed in 25 minutes.
- Current events, social and economic challenges, and abstract and thought-provoking topics could all be included.
XAT Exam Previous Year Essay Topics
XAT essay themes from the previous 16 years are listed below:
| Year | XAT Exam Essay Topics |
| 2022 | Capitalism and democracy follow a different logicCandidates with stellar academic records are preferred by B-schools for admission but they make average managers |
| 2018 | Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist? |
| 2017 | Globalization and Jingoism always coexist |
| 2016 | Technology and Nature are natural enemies |
| 2015 | Listening is a dying art. We hardly listen to understand. We only listen to refute or reply. |
| 2014 | The most beautiful thing can neither be seen nor be touched but can only be felt |
| 2013 | Corruption is the root cause of the economic slowdown in India |
| 2012 | The government is not addressing the root cause of poverty, Government is not able to implement the policies properly due to the huge magnitude of poverty |
| 2011 | The statesman who would attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it. |
| 2010 | Earth provides enough to satisfy everybody's needs but not everybody's greed |
| 2009 | The Inherent vice of Capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings and the inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of misery |
| 2008 | Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War |
| 2007 | Economic growth without environmental damage – a mirage or a reality |
| 2006 | India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products |
| 2005 | More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities |
| 2004 | Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would choose as his masterpiece, Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect answered, "The next one" |
| 2003 | To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured, like sincerity and integrity |
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XAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Key Changes Introduced
The XAT exam pattern 2024 has been revised, and following the new paper pattern it includes five sections. XAT 2024 exam pattern has undergone the significant revisions listed below:
- NAT Questions Introduced: XLRI has included a brand-new Numerical Answer Type (NAT) question category in the XAT pattern 2024. Candidates must input their numerical responses to the NAT questions using the virtual keypad on the computer screen.
- Penalty for Un-attempted Questions: According to the updated XAT question paper pattern, there will be a 0.10 mark negative marking penalty for each question not attempted after 8 questions.
- Essay Writing Test Restored: In the updated XAT exam pattern 2024, the descriptive question from the Essay Writing test has been reinstated.
- XAT Time Duration: Instead of the previous three hours, the XAT 2024 exam will last three hours and ten minutes.
- 25 Minutes Extra for Visually Impaired Candidates: For the initial part of the XAT exam (the first three sections), the scribe will get an additional 25 minutes in 2024. For the GK section, there is no time allowance.
Also Read: How to Prepare for XAT Verbal?
XAT 2024 Exam Duration: Overall & Sectional Time Limit
The details concerning the XAT section-wise exam duration is mentioned below. The overall and sectional time limit will help candidates in learning time management for both the papers.
- XAT 2024 exam will last 3 hours 30 minutes, with part I taking 175 minutes and part II 35 minutes.
- The VALR, QADI, and DM sections of part 1 of the question paper will not have sectional time limits.
- PwD candidates will receive 20 more minutes each hour. Therefore, they will receive 55 additional minutes for Part 1 and 5 additional minutes for Part 2 of the XAT question paper.
| Part 1 | ||
| Section | Overall & Sectional Exam Duration | Overall & Sectional Exam Duration for PwD candidates |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | No Sectional Time Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | No Sectional Time Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Decision Making | No Sectional Time Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Overall Part 1 | 210 minutes | 210 minutes |
| Part 2 | ||
| General Knowledge | No Sectional Time Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Essay Writing | No Sectional Time Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Overall Part 2 | 35 minutes | 35 minutes |
Quick Links: How to Prepare for XAT in 6 Months?
FAQs
What is the XAT exam pattern 2024?
The XAT exam pattern 2024 includes marking scheme, total number of questions, total marks, exam time, duration, exam mode, etc. The detailed exam pattern is shared for the applicants.
Does XAT have negative marking?
Yes, there is negative marking in XAT. For each wrong answer there will be deduction of 1/4th marks. Thus, applicants must choose the answers very carefully in the examination hall.
How many sections are there in XAT 2024 exam paper?
XAT 2024 exam paper consists of four sections, namely, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.
What is the XAT exam duration for the year 2024?
The conducting officials will commence the exam for 3 hours and 30 minutes in online mode (computer-based test). Applicants must check the detailed exam patter shared.
What is the number of XAT total questions for 2024?
The XAT paper consists of 100 questions divided into four sections as 26 questions will be asked from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning, 21 questions will be asked from Decision Making, 28 questions will be asked from Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and 25 questions will be asked from General Knowledge.
